Freedomtrail

I'm confused as to how many copies and therefore fees are associated with
AOS when a spouse has a child. Do you have to have a separate I-130 for the
spouse and the child? Do you need separate 485's or any other form? Or can
you just include kids under 16 on any of these forms and not have to
duplicate all that work and also the fees which is $255. If you had a
spouse with 3 kids that would be almost $1200 just for one form!!! There
goes all your savings for the affidavit of support. Thanks.

-f

Mrs_blackross

not sure if it is the same for other entries (like the K3)...but when my two
kids and I entered as visitors and ended up staying, I had to file an I-130
for myself and both kids separately, as well as the I-485 for each of us.
big bucks! not to mention getting a medical for each of us ($175 for me,
$75 for each child, but I am in Maryland and the prices vary from dr to dr
and state to state), and INS style pictures of each child.
We did not bother with the EAD for them as they are too young to work (which
saved alot) and don't need a SSN while awaiting their green cards, but we
did file for advance parole which was $110 each.
the good news is that the fee for children under 14 is cheaper for the I-485
(only $160 instead of $255) and at least you won't have to get the kiddies
under 14 fingerprinted.


"FreedomTrail" wrote in message
news:3dab6a33$0$957$39cecf19-
@nnrp1.twtelecom.net...
    > I'm confused as to how many copies and therefore fees are associated with
    > AOS when a spouse has a child. Do you have to have a separate I-130 for
the
    > spouse and the child? Do you need separate 485's or any other form? Or
can
    > you just include kids under 16 on any of these forms and not have to
    > duplicate all that work and also the fees which is $255. If you had a
    > spouse with 3 kids that would be almost $1200 just for one form!!! There
    > goes all your savings for the affidavit of support. Thanks.
    > -f

FlightRisk

Someone mentioned that you don't have to apply for the kids at all, that you can include them on the I-130 and 485 in some way. The disadvantage is that they don't have their own status and if something was to happen to their mom before the paperwork was approved, they would have to go back. I am not sure what they meant or if it is only until my spouse gets her status, or if there is a timeframe beyond that.

If I have to file for 3 people at $130 plus $255 x2 and $160 x1 and medicals, we are already over $1000 and I haven't even looked at the other filing fees and pictures yet! There has to be a way to save some. I can see if you use an attorney how this could easily approach $10,000. Who says there ins't a price on love?

FR

Folinskyinla

Hi:

You're wrong. If the children were under 18 when natural parent married, they are "step-children" and they need a separate I-130 for each. The step-children I-130's do NOT need G-325A [but children over 14 will need one for the 485, but not needed from step-parent petitoiner]. They also need separate I-485's. If under 14 at time of filing, the kids don't need G-325A's and the fee is lower.

As an aside, due to a quirk in the law, K-1's can bring their children under 21 and they can adjust even if marriage took place after the kid's 18th birthday.

FlightRisk

So do you know what this attorney meant when they said I didn't have to file separately for each child, but it's what they recommend? She said it had something to do with if I don't file basically 3 packets, then the children won't have their own status if something happens to the mom before it's all complete.

Also your note implies that you need G-325A's for BOTH the I-130 and the I-485??? But that the children won't need 325A's for the I-130, although the one over 14 will need one for the I-485?

I don't understand what you mean by "children over 14 will need one for the 485, but not needed from step-parent petitoiner". The petitioner (me) doesn't need a G-325A at all, or just for both children's forms because I already did it for my spouse's I-130? Thanks for your help.

FR